Methods for treating disorders of the nervous and reproductive systems

Abstract

The invention features methods for treating, preventing or modulating a neurological disease or disorder, or for modulating an anaesthetic or a fertility process by administering compounds that modulate ABCA1 expression or activity. The invention also features methods for identifying compounds useful for such methods.

Description

[0001] This application claims priority of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60 / 297,102, filed 8 Jun. 2001, the disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0002] The present invention relates to the field of treating, preventing and / or modulating neurological diseases and disorders, modulating anaesthetic and / or fertility processes using compounds that modulate ABCA1 expression and / or activity as well as screening assays for identifying compounds useful in these methods. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0003] Regulation of lipid homeostasis is an essential process for many cellular and bodily functions, and is controlled to a large extent by the regulated transport of cholesterol and phospholipids carried on lipoproteins. Almost all of the lipoproteins are formed in the liver, which is where most of the plasma cholesterol, phospholipids and triglycerides (except those obtained from dietary sources) are synthesized. Large quantities of p...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0023] Such agents may have the effect of either increasing or decreasing fertility in an animal, especially a mammal, most especially a human being. In one such embodiment, the mammal is male and ABCA1-modulating agent has the effect of increasing spermatogenesis and / or capacitation of one or more sperm cells of this male and thereby increase fertility. In a preferred embodiment of the latter effect, the agent is a positive modulator of one or more of the functions of ABCA1 genes or proteins and thus has the effect of enhancing ABCA1-biological activity.

[0071] By “modulation of a fertility process” is meant any effect that alters the fertility of the subject. Modulation of a fertility process in an inhibitory manner can result in contraception. Enhancement of a fertility process can result in an increased likelihood of fertilization and embryogenesis and can be done for the purpose of overcoming a reproductive defect. This enhancement can be effected by increasing the potency of the sperm, by causing the endometrium to become more receptive to embryo implantation, or by reducing the probability that the uterus will expel, absorb or otherwise reject an implanted embryo.

Problems solved by technology

Although differentiated, epididymal sperm are not capable of fertilization and must first complete their maturation in the female reproductive tract.

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